Off to war? Tough! No refund for you!

An American army reservist who has been called up for service has been dealt a double blow. Not only will he have to cancel his wedding, he’ll also lose thousands of dollars since several suppliers are refusing to refund his money.

After a tiny ceremony the first time around, Justin McIlwain wanted to give his wife, Victoria, their dream wedding, so, for their fifth anniversary in January, they decided to have the wedding they both dreamed of.

Victoria even bought a wedding dress, but their plans were thrown into disarray after Justin was called up for service in an unknown location for an unknown period.

As soon as the Florida couple were notified of the change in Justin’s orders, they immediately started contacting suppliers to inform them that the wedding was to be postponed and all but two of the suppliers were willing to help out given the circumstances and the fact they were beyond the couple’s control

“When you’re part of the military and they tell you to go, you don’t ask any questions,” Victoria told wtsp.com, adding that most suppliers were sympathetic to their plight.

“Every single vendor, except for one, worked with me,” says Victoria who has since discovered her venue also won’t be refunding their $4,800 deposit.

Justin McIlwain on duty. Image source: wtsp.com

Christine Hackett, the home-based florist refusing to refund the couple’s $640 payment flower deposit said, “My heart goes out to her,” but, she adds “I have a contract on it and the date was saved for her,”adding that the couple knew of the arrangement when signing up.

Hackett has admitted that she has not yet purchased flowers for the McIlwain’s wedding, but, in refusing the refund, has factored in the time she spent planning the flowers with Victoria, and also the fact she also turned down another wedding set for the same date.

“It’s just business! I’m trying to earn a living in this lousy economy too.” Hackett points out that the couple knew Justin could be called up at any time and that she had an email

Victoria says that they’ve given suppliers nine months’ notice, plenty of time to replace her booking and asks of Hackett, “With nine months notice, what have you done with my deposit that you can’t refund me my money?”

“I don’t understand how people can disrespect the military. They don’t understand what he does.”

What do you think? Should Just and Victoria’s money be refunded? On the other hand, they did have a contract and Hackett is running a business.

7 responses to “Off to war? Tough! No refund for you!”

I think that business should be made to refund all deposits for situations like this it is so unfair that people like this is do rude and yet there not the ones who have to leave there family and friends to fight for there country seriously give these people there money back or I say this couple should seek legal advise as contract or no contract he is in the army

Yes, Leshyarose, that’s the problem with this situation. Legally, the florist has done nothing wrong, but it’s a story that certainly tugs at the heartstrings and you can’t help but feel for Justin and Victoria!

Perhaps the florist could at least say, “If I can book another wedding for that date in the next nine months (which is likely), you can have your money back.” Or even, “If I book another wedding for any date, you can have your money back.” What about the goodwill that would create? The florist is ignoring the goodwill factor in keeping a business going.

That was really one of the worst scenario i ever knew! The florist has done nothing wrong yes but still she sh@EasyWeddings:disqus
uld give those couple the benefit of a doubt.Or send back the money even it is only half.
Thanks,
Mark from waldemarjewellers.com.au

Unless another booking is made for that same date, the vendors I think are well within their rights to keep the retainer, as they may well have turned down other potential paying clients for that same date. If they can rebook that date, then I think a retainer refund would definitely show goodwill

They signed a contract. Yes it sucks that he got called up but they knew that was a possibility. The military should not be above the law. I do not think the florist should have any reason to show them ‘goodwill’. Why should she lose out on some sweet cash because they took a gamble on him getting called to service. Clever businesswoman for getting couples to sign a contract.